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Detection of air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in hospital rooms of infected patients

Author

Listed:
  • Po Ying Chia

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital
    Nanyang Technological University)

  • Kristen Kelli Coleman

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Yian Kim Tan

    (DSO National Laboratories)

  • Sean Wei Xiang Ong

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital)

  • Marcus Gum

    (DSO National Laboratories)

  • Sok Kiang Lau

    (DSO National Laboratories)

  • Xiao Fang Lim

    (DSO National Laboratories)

  • Ai Sim Lim

    (DSO National Laboratories)

  • Stephanie Sutjipto

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital)

  • Pei Hua Lee

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital)

  • Than The Son

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Barnaby Edward Young

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital
    Nanyang Technological University)

  • Donald K. Milton

    (University of Maryland School of Public Health)

  • Gregory C. Gray

    (National University of Singapore
    Duke University
    Duke Kunshan University)

  • Stephan Schuster

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Timothy Barkham

    (Tan Tock Seng Hospital
    National University of Singapore)

  • Partha Pratim De

    (Tan Tock Seng Hospital
    Nanyang Technological University)

  • Shawn Vasoo

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital
    Nanyang Technological University)

  • Monica Chan

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital)

  • Brenda Sze Peng Ang

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital
    Nanyang Technological University
    National University of Singapore)

  • Boon Huan Tan

    (DSO National Laboratories)

  • Yee-Sin Leo

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital
    Nanyang Technological University
    National University of Singapore)

  • Oon-Tek Ng

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital
    Nanyang Technological University)

  • Michelle Su Yen Wong

    (DSO National Laboratories)

  • Kalisvar Marimuthu

    (National Centre for Infectious Diseases
    Tan Tock Seng Hospital
    National University of Singapore)

Abstract

Understanding the particle size distribution in the air and patterns of environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for infection prevention policies. Here we screen surface and air samples from hospital rooms of COVID-19 patients for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Environmental sampling is conducted in three airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs) in the ICU and 27 AIIRs in the general ward. 245 surface samples are collected. 56.7% of rooms have at least one environmental surface contaminated. High touch surface contamination is shown in ten (66.7%) out of 15 patients in the first week of illness, and three (20%) beyond the first week of illness (p = 0.01, χ2 test). Air sampling is performed in three of the 27 AIIRs in the general ward, and detects SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive particles of sizes >4 µm and 1–4 µm in two rooms, despite these rooms having 12 air changes per hour. This warrants further study of the airborne transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2.

Suggested Citation

  • Po Ying Chia & Kristen Kelli Coleman & Yian Kim Tan & Sean Wei Xiang Ong & Marcus Gum & Sok Kiang Lau & Xiao Fang Lim & Ai Sim Lim & Stephanie Sutjipto & Pei Hua Lee & Than The Son & Barnaby Edward Yo, 2020. "Detection of air and surface contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in hospital rooms of infected patients," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16670-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16670-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Bao Li & Baobao Lin & Yan Wang & Ye Shi & Wu Zeng & Yulan Zhao & Yin Gu & Chang Liu & Hui Gao & Hao Cheng & Xiaoqun Zheng & Guangxin Xiang & Guiqiang Wang & Peng Liu, 2024. "Multi-scenario surveillance of respiratory viruses in aerosols with sub-single-copy spatial resolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Marcelo I. Guzman, 2021. "An overview of the effect of bioaerosol size in coronavirus disease 2019 transmission," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(2), pages 257-266, March.

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